“Thanks for taking the time to see me, Doctor,” Michael Porelli said. He was sitting in front of the desk in Doctor Blakeney’s office at the Amity Medical Center. He had introduced himself as Celia Parks’ attorney and that he was conducting a preliminary investigation into the incident that caused the death of one Mrs. Jane Pruitt and the suspension of his client from working at the hospital.
“That’s quite all right,” the physician said.” Celia was a good attendant. Very good at her job. That is until this incident. I still find it hard to believe there was negligence on her part, but mistakes do happen to the best of us.” He was a middle age man with a full head of snow white hair that was trimmed neatly and air blown on top. He had a broad face and a square jaw. His complexion was ruddy and free from any facial hair. His sharp blue eyes were prominent, behind contact lenses. His voice was deep and mellow, giving the impression of high intelligence and deep compassion. When he spoke, each word was weighed and delivered with precise deliberation.
“There’s no possibility that someone else could have been responsible, I understand there were other attendants present,” Michael said, referring to his notes.” A Shirley Robbins and an RN, an N. Taylor.”
“Yes. That’s Natalie Taylor,” Blakeney said.
“I’d like to talk with them if I may,” Michael said, writing ‘Natalie’ in his notes next to the N.
“If Ms. Taylor consents to it, I don’t see why not.”
“What about Shirley Robbins?”
“I’m afraid she’s no longer with us,” the doctor said shaking his head.
“Did you dismiss her along with Celia Parks?”
“No,” Blakeney said.” She simply left and never came back to work again.”
“She left without notice?”
“Precisely.”
“Just when was this?
Blakeney reached for his desk calendar and flipped the pages back several days.” Last Monday was the last day she reported for work. She didn’t show on Tuesday and we haven’t heard from her since.”
“Didn’t anyone try to contact her?”
“My secretary called her at home and found that the phone was disconnected. Seems she had moved and hadn’t notified personnel of her address change and phone number.”
“Didn’t she have pay coming?”
“No. She wasn’t on direct deposit, so she was handed her check here. Payday is twice a month. The fifteenth and the last day of the month. Monday was the fifteenth and she was paid up to date. We don’t hold back pay.”
“I see,” Michael mused.” Apparently, she planned it that way, then. Took the money and ran, so to speak.”
“Apparently,” the doctor agreed.” She wasn’t very good at her job. She seemed to have an attitude and she just didn’t seem to care about doing a good job. We’re lucky to be rid of her, I guess.”
“There’s no way she could have been involved in the mix up with the Pruitt woman, then?”
“No.” The physician shook his head emphatically.” She had absolutely nothing to do with the patients on that side of the room that day.”
“Can you say the same for Ms. Taylor?”
“No, I can’t. Ms Taylor was responsible for readying the medications in all of the infusion bags. It was her job to see that the right medication was in the right bag.”
“Is it possible, that she could have simply put the wrong medication in the wrong bags?”
“Of course that’s possible,” Blakeney agreed.” But that’s not what happened. The right medications were put in the right bags, but the bags were switched. After Mrs. Pruitt died, the bags were checked and Mrs. Porelli’s name was on the bag for Mrs. Pruitt and Mrs. Pruitt’s name was on Mrs. Porelli’s bag. It was the attendant’s job to connect the right bag with the right patient. She must have gotten confused, somehow. Perhaps because their names both began with the letter P. Then again, perhaps Ms. Parks was not functioning with alertness that day. Who knows? She may have been up late the night before. We don’t even know if she had any kind of substance abuse problem.”
Mike didn’t like the insinuation. Celia had not come across to him as someone with a habit. He let it go and said,” Then, there is no doubt in your mind that she simply screwed up?” Michael said.
Blakeney sighed,” I am very much afraid, that is exactly what happened. As you say, she screwed up. Unfortunately, in this business, mistakes can be crucial. And in this case, it was fatal. We all feel terrible for Mrs. Pruitt, but the fact of the matter is that the hospital must not be hampered by this incident. We do far more good than bad, and if we are prevented from doing our jobs, because of an accident, then a lot of people suffer. So you see, the hospital cannot assume all the blame here.”
“You mean, you have to have a scape goat?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way exactly. After all we must accept the responsibility for our staff and personnel.”
“But it does, ease the burden a bit, if the blame can be placed on one person’s shoulders.”
“The way of the world, Mr. Porelli.” He clasped his hands on the top of his desk.
Mike had been gone only seconds. As the doctor’s door closed behind him, Blakeney picked up the phone. He punched in a number that he didn’t have to look up. He sat impatiently, tapping his toe nervously as he listened to the phone ringing on the other end of the line. After the fourth ring, he heard the receiver on the other end pick up and a voice came on.
“He was just here,” Blakeney said, agitated.” He just left.”
The voice on the other end said something and Blakeney answered,” No. I didn’t tell him any more than I had too. He doesn’t seem to know about the girl, though. For some reason, it’s been kept quiet, so somebody must know something. That means, she wasn’t working alone.”
The voice at the other end was calm and reassuring.
“Well, I hope you are able to take care of it. But I’m nervous,” Blakeney said.
The voice came back on. Blakeney shook his head as he listened.” Yes, I do trust you. But be careful. That’s all I’m saying,” he said. There was still doubt in his voice.
“Excuse me,” Mike Porelli said as he came up behind the tall blond hair woman in the white uniform of an RN.” Are you Natalie Taylor?”
She turned to face him. She was a striking woman for her mid forties and her face was almost void of lines. Botox, Michael thought. Here is a high maintenance woman.
“Yes,’’ she answered. There was a broad smile on her face, but her eyes had a hardness and coldness that belied her sincerity.” What can I do for you?” She held a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other.
“I’m Michael Porelli,” Mike said extended his hand in greeting.” I’m an attorney, gathering information about the incident involving one Mrs. Jane Pruitt.”
The woman merely glanced at his hand dismissively and failed to return the gesture.” Pruitt family attorney? So there is going to be a law suit after all? I thought there wasn’t going to be any.”
“No Ms. Taylor,” Michael said quickly before the woman got carried any further away with the wrong conclusions.” I’m not representing the Pruitts. I’m just gathering information, in case there are any legal ramifications.”
“Then you represent the hospital. Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
“I’m afraid you’ve still got it wrong. I don’t represent the hospital either.”
Her heavily mascarade eyes flashed with a bit of temper.” Then who sent you? Just who are you working for?”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that just yet, but I would like to ask you a few questions.”
“Well, you certainly are one most afraid man. I’ll give you that. Well, I’m also afraid. I’m afraid I can’t answer any questions from just anybody. Especially, when I don’t know who you represent.” She started to turn and walk away.
“Who told you there wasn’t going to be a law suit?” Michael asked sha
rply as she turned.
She halted and turned back toward him.” I never said anyone told me that,” she snapped.
“Did someone here in the hospital tell you?” Michael asked sharply.
“No.” She leveled her gaze at him.” It’s been very quiet around here. I just assumed that it was all blowing over.” She seemed very nervous and defensive.
“Is that what usually happens when someone dies by mistake? It just blows over?”
“I don’t think I like you Mr. Por……, or what ever you said your name was. And don’t come around here again with your silly questions. I don’t have to answer them,” she said. Then she turned once again and stomped off down the hallway.
“We’ll see about that Ms. Taylor,” Michael thought to himself.” We’ll see.”
*****
Chapter Seventeen